A cyclist was left with brain damage after being launched into the air by two drivers racing "for fun", and only woke up in hospital a month later.

Bogdan Pohrib, then 25, suffered multiple injuries including brain damage, and two and a half years later is still badly affected.

His hopes of training to become a doctor now lie in ruins.

Scott Worthington, the motorist whose Seat Cupra ploughed into Mr Pohrib’s cycle, hurling him into the air, was jailed for two years today (Monday) and banned from getting behind a steering wheel for four years.

His lawyer told the court that the 28-year-old has since had a stroke which Worthington describes as “karma”.

Mark Birch, with whom he had been racing through Southport, was sentenced to 13 months in prison and banned from driving for three and a half years.

Both were travelling along Lord Street towards Birkdale after leaving a restaurant; Worthington driving a Seat and Birch a Mercedes, on November 24, 2018.

Frank Dillon, prosecuting, told the court: “Both men drove at excessive speed; both carried out risky, if not downright dangerous, manoeuvres and evidence from eye-witnesses strongly suggests that they were, in effect, racing one another - egging each other on to drive in an irresponsible and dangerous manner."

One motorist saw Worthington’s under-taking car “zigzag” between her car and the rear of a bus on Lord Street.

A few seconds later she was undertaken by Birch’s car which she believed was travelling too fast for the conditions.

Shortly afterwards they came across the scene of the collision and saw the Seat was involved.

Other witnesses spoke of seeing the two cars travelling in excess of the speed limit with estimates from 50 to 80 mph and apparently racing each other..

Mr Dillon explained that the accident happened after Worthington’s car struck another car which emerged from a side street. “As a result of that collision, Mr Worthington seems to have lost control of his vehicle and struck the bicycle being ridden by Mr. Pohrib.”

Two witnesses sitting on a balcony in Lulworth Road had seen the Mercedes pull out onto the wrong side of the road to overtake the Seat and the vehicles were side by side for a couple of seconds.
They then heard the brakes of the Mercedes screeching as it dropped back followed by three loud bangs.

Worthington remained at the scene of the crash. He told police he had been going too fast and hit a car that pulled out from a side road.

When formally interviewed he also said: “The kerb’s like pushed me behind where the cyclist was. And then I can just remember just sparks and that and the bike going up in front of me. “

When Birch was interviewed in the early hours of the next day he denied speeding or racing.

He said he did not stop at the scene as he did not make contact with anyone so did not consider he was involved in the collision and had not realised how serious it was.

Mr Dillon said that it was not asserted that the racing had been pre-planned, saying: “There is no evidence to suggest it was anything other than a spontaneous act on the part of each defendant.”

In an impact statement Mr Pohrib told how he can no longer exercise as before or enjoy his sporting hobbies as his balance has been affected.

He worked on ambulances in his homeland of Romania and had been working in the care industry here.

He had hoped to become a doctor but his ability to learn and retain information has been affected by his brain injuries so will not be able to do so.

Mr Pohrib also found when he went back to Romania he struggled with his native tongue and his relationship with his partner broke up and he has had difficulties forming new relationships.

Mr Dillon said: “He has lost his sense of adventure and feels the last three years of his life have been turned upside down."

Worthington, of Park Road, Southport, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Birch, 29, of Sturt Road North, Bootle, denied that charge but pleaded guilty to dangerous driving which was accepted by the Crown.

Sentencing them, Judge Anil Murray told them: “This is a case where you both took risks that endangered yourselves and others and in your case Scott Worthington resulted in terrible injuries.

“And the two of you did that so you could have fun.”

Defence barrister Bernice Campbell, said that Worthington, a dad-of-one, had pleaded guilty at an early stage and had had the matter hanging over him ever since.

She described the incident as ”a moment of madness” and told how he had been tearful with the probation report author, saying: "He is ashamed not only about what he has done to his family but mainly because his actions have had such a devastating affect on the victim.”

Worthington, who runs a carpet cleaning business, had been in good health at the time but since then his mental health had spiralled downwards and last summer he suffered a stroke, possibly brought on by stress and anxiety.

In a letter to the judge, Worthington, who has recovered well from the stroke, he said, “I take full responsibility for my actions, my actions were completely out of character.”

Peter Killen, defending, said that Birch, who has a previous conviction for drink driving, said that he had not appreciated the seriousness of what had happened or his role in it at the time he was interviewed.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/drivers-racing-for-fun-leave-20666963

On 24/05/2021 06:12 pm, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

[ ... ]

> Mark Birch, with whom he had been racing through Southport, was sentenced to 13 months in prison and banned from driving for three and a half years.
>
> Both were travelling along Lord Street towards Birkdale after leaving a restaurant; Worthington driving a Seat and Birch a Mercedes, on November 24, 2018.

Your knowledge of geography as "impressive" as usual, eh?

On 29/05/2021 12:15 pm, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Monday, May 24, 2021 at 6:12:35 PM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
> visionset | 158 posts | 1 hour ago
> 1 like
>
> “We hope that today’s sentence shows that we simply will not tolerate racing on the streets of Merseyside”
>
> erm nope
>
>>
>> https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/drivers-racing-for-fun-leave-20666963

Ah... you accept your geographical ignorance at last.

Well done.